Golf: Alker in a share of 55th

Kiwi golfer Steve Alker fired a five-over par 75 in the third round of the US Open

Kiwi golfer Steve Alker fired a five-over par 75 in the third round of the US Open at the Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania today to have a share of 55th place heading into the final round.

Alker was in a precarious position to even make the cut after he finished his second round of 75 yesterday to be one shot back from the projected cut-line when play was stopped due to darkness.

But when all players had finished their second round, the cut-line moved out to eight-over to allow Alker to squeeze in.

Alker, who qualified for the US Open after winning a sectional event in California last week, had two birdies and two bogeys in the first eight holes of his third round but faded as he dropped six shots in a six-hole stretch in the middle.

He finished with a birdie at the par-four 10th to be 13-over through 54 holes.

The only other Kiwi in the field, Michael Campbell, returned to Merion today to complete his second round in need of some birdies to make an unlikely cut.

But, the 2005 US Open champion bogeyed the 14th and 16th holes, before a double-bogey at the 18th to finish with an eight-over 78 for the round to be 14-over for the week.

American Phil Mickelson leads the tournament at one-under the card, with Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker in the chasing pack at even par.